Recommended Reads – Blendtec Bloghttp://www.blendtec.com/blog
The Blendtec BlogFri, 09 Dec 2016 00:05:55 +0000en-UShourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6Top 10 Searched Diets of 2013http://www.blendtec.com/blog/top-10-searched-diets-of-2013/
http://www.blendtec.com/blog/top-10-searched-diets-of-2013/#respondWed, 08 Jan 2014 12:00:00 +0000http://stage.blendtec.com/blog/?p=10246For most people, New Years Resolutions typically include goals related to health and fitness or weight loss. In 2012, celebrity-based diets were popular. The list for 2013 consists of mostly plant and fruit-based diets and we have the list of the Top 10 Searched Diets of 2013 right here. What are your health goals this year and what diets do you think will be the most popular?

The list from 2012 was full of celebrity-based diets, with “The Michael Phelps Diet” taking the #1 spot. Many people were curious of his supposed 12,000 calorie per day diet used to fuel his Olympic medal-winning performances.

The list for 2013 consists of mostly plant and fruit-based diets.

*This is just a summary of the most-searched diets in 2013. It is in no way a recommendation of what diet is best for you, so do your homework and consult a professional before starting any diet. Several of these diets have been deemed unhealthy and/or dangerous.*

The Top 10 Searched Diets of 2013

#10 Flexitarian Diet

This “relaxed” vegetarian diet is made up of primarily vegetable-based meals, with the occasional chicken or fish.

#9 Pescatarian Diet

This diet is mostly vegetarian but adds fish, which are great for getting Omega-3s.

#8 Fruitarian Diet

Fruitarian is–you guessed it–a fruit only diet. The diet received a lot of negative press because it makes it hard to get your essential fatty acids, protein, and other nutrients. The search was boosted after Ashton Kutcherended up in the hospital after following the diet.

#7 Omnivore Diet

An Omnivore eats everything, including all types of meat, dairy, and gluten in addition to fruits and veggies.

#6 Okinawa Diet

Want to live to 100like the people of Japan? The Okinawa Diet combines fresh veggies, tofu, whole grains, and fish with moderate consumption of sweets, alcohol and saturated fats. It could let you party past the century mark!

#5 Ketogenic Diet

Designed as a supervised medical treatmentmore than a true stand-alone diet, the Ketogenic diet hit the Top 5 for 2013. Sugar and refined carbs are replaced with high-fat and high protein foods.

#4 Master Cleanse Diet

Curiosity and negative side effects helped fuel people’s curiosity of the “Master Cleanse Diet” enough in 2013 to make it into the Top 5.

#3 Mediterranean Diet

The results of a large study showed the Mediterranean Diet to be heart healthy with its fresh fruits, veggies, seeds, beans, and nuts.

#2 Juice Cleanse Diet

Another cleanse diet with negative research around it, the Juice Cleanse Diet hit #2 on the most-searched diets.

Drum roll please……..the most-searched diet of 2013:

#1 Paleo Diet

Hugely popular in the Crossfit world and often referred to as the “Caveman” diet, the Paleo diet hit its all time peak in 2013. Controversy still surrounds whether this diet is the best for our modern lifestyles, but we can learn from its reduced refined sugars and processed foods that are rampant in society today.

As 2014 begins, what diets do you think will top the charts this year?

]]>http://www.blendtec.com/blog/top-10-searched-diets-of-2013/feed/0“Gluten Free” Label–Standards Set by the FDAhttp://www.blendtec.com/blog/gluten-free-label-standards-set-by-the-fda/
http://www.blendtec.com/blog/gluten-free-label-standards-set-by-the-fda/#respondWed, 07 Aug 2013 16:00:00 +0000http://stage.blendtec.com/blog/?p=8299After six years the FDA has set regulations for food labeled as "gluten free." Before these regulations had been set, manufacturers made their own decisions about what the term meant. See what it takes for a product to be considered "gluten free" in this post.

It’s been a long six years, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally set regulations for foods labeled as “gluten free.” Previously, the term was not regulated and manufacturers made their own decisions about what the term means. That is finally over, and the term “gluten free” will now mean the same thing for all foods.

The FDA announced that the term may appear on foods that contain fewer than 20 parts per million of gluten. This rule also applies to foods labeled as “no gluten,” “without gluten,” and “free of gluten.” Though this decision means foods labeled as gluten free don’t have to be free of all wheat, rye, barley, and their derivatives, the medical community has reported that foods containing fewer than 20 parts per million of gluten are suitable for individuals with celiac disease to eat without getting sick.

For those who don’t know, celiac disease affects 3 million Americans. The disease prevents them from absorbing nutrients well, and eating the gluten found in wheat and other grains can cause abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea. Those affected can also experience fatigue, weight loss, rashes, and other long-term medical problems.

The FDA has given manufacturers one year to comply but has urged faster compliance. The regulations will be of great benefit to individuals with celiac disease by enabling them to make more-informed food choices. Andrea Levario of the American Celiac Disease Alliance said that for people who have celiac disease, grocery shopping can be like playing Russian roulette because so many packaged foods contain hidden ingredients, like rye and barley.

The new regulations will also help eliminate confusion for other individuals who choose to eat gluten-free foods. Further, manufacturers will receive fewer phone calls from people seeking clarification on whether certain products contain gluten.

Many people have waited a long time for regulations on labeling food as gluten free. The FDA’s deputy commissioner for food, Michael Taylor, attributed the delay to the desire “to do a careful scientific assessment of the data and the range of sensitivities.” Those with celiac disease and other gluten intolerances can now feel more confident in their grocery shopping.

]]>http://www.blendtec.com/blog/gluten-free-label-standards-set-by-the-fda/feed/0Top 5 Smoothie Recipe Bookshttp://www.blendtec.com/blog/top-smoothie-recipe-books/
http://www.blendtec.com/blog/top-smoothie-recipe-books/#commentsMon, 28 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000http://stage.blendtec.com/blog/?p=2986Did you see our previous post about the best books for green smoothie recipes? It was a hit! Here are five of our favorite books on smoothies in general that we thought you'd be interested in checking out.

Though this book contains juices as well as smoothies, it has many more smoothie recipes than juice recipes. The recipes range from kids smoothies to breakfast smoothies to milkshakes. This book is perfect for a beginner wanting to understand what makes a great smoothie. After some time using this book, you’ll be able to blend freestyle and achieve great results. In Amazon’s customer reviews, this book has received 4.3 out of 5 stars.

Daniella Chace, a nutritionist, created the recipes for this book. There are over 150 recipes designed to help cure common ailments, increase longevity, and satisfy cravings. This book is for a slightly more advanced smoothie drinker—as you drink more healthy smoothies, your palate adjusts to the flavors. If you’ve never drunk a healthy smoothie, you should probably look for a different book. To an experienced healthy-smoothie palate, these recipes are perfect. This book also has a rating of 4.3 stars out of 5 on Amazon.

Similar to the books above, this recipe book has over 130 recipes. The thing that separates this book from the others is its wide range of recipes. The types of smoothies in this book include new-parent pick me uppers, luncheon smoothies, party smoothies, pregnancy smoothies, and weight loss aids. This book is currently rated as 4.2 stars out of 5 on Amazon.

This book is short, simple, and sweet. It contains 35 low-calorie, healthy fruit smoothies. Of all of the books in this post, this book has the simplest recipes. The recipes contain fairly common fruits, so I can usually find a recipe in this book that fits what I have on hand at the time. This book is rated as 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

The focus of this book is on super-food smoothies. With 50 recipes, nearly all containing super foods, this book is a great option for anyone who wants to add more power foods to their diet. The recipes are easy to make and are very well organized. This book currently has a rating of 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon.

]]>http://www.blendtec.com/blog/top-smoothie-recipe-books/feed/5Best Green Smoothie Bookshttp://www.blendtec.com/blog/best-green-smoothie-books/
http://www.blendtec.com/blog/best-green-smoothie-books/#commentsMon, 03 Dec 2012 13:00:00 +0000http://stage.blendtec.com/blog/?p=1470Here at Blendtec, we are major advocates of drinking green smoothies to ensure we are incorporating enough greens into our diets. For those of you who are right there with us and can't get enough green smoothie love, here are five of our favorite books to satisfy your smoothie fix.

Green smoothies seem to be becoming more popular every day. We seem to get a great response every time we post a green smoothie recipe on our site. For those of you who can’t get enough of green smoothies, here are some books to help you satisfy your green smoothie fix.

Robyn Openshaw (aka, Green Smoothie Girl) is one of the leaders of the green smoothie movement. She teaches classes all over the United States to people who want to learn more about green smoothies. Her book is very thorough; it explains why she and her family drink green smoothies and includes recipes to help novices get started. It even branches out into how to grow your own greens.

Victoria Boutenko is a pioneer of the raw-food movement and is a big factor in the raw-food diet becoming so popular. After many people in her family became ill, she spent time analyzing chimpanzee diets and how different foods affect chimps. Through her research, Boutenko found that greens are a key factor in chimpanzee health. She transferred that knowledge to her family, and now her family follows the raw-food diet, mainly eating greens. Her book is quite scientific and contains some great recipes near the end.

If you’re already sold on the benefits of green smoothies, read this book to move to the next level. The book contains 300 green smoothie recipes (almost one for each day of the year). The recipes cover a large variety of tastes and health goals, from losing weight to decreasing your chances of cancer and improving your mood. My favorite section is on smoothies for kids.

This book is packed with helpful information and recipes, just like TheGreen Smoothie Bible. With over 300 recipes, you are bound to use this book a lot. This book categorizes smoothies slightly different from some of the other books, and this organization may be a better fit for your style. The categories include smoothies for weight loss, pregnancy, athletes, digestive health and antiaging.

We don’t think you’re an idiot, but apparently Bo Rinaldi does. All kidding aside, this is a great book if you’re looking to get into green smoothies. The book doesn’t go as in-depth as The Green Smoothies Diet or Green for Life, but it contains the essential information you should know about green smoothies. Rinaldi also provides a nice list of beginner green smoothies.

Also check out our post about our Best Green Smoothie Recipes. What are your favorite sources for green smoothie recipes and information?